Just wondering why they sell so cheap on ebay.On my previous layout(5-6 yrs ago)I bought a new and paid about $50-60 for it.Heck they're selling for half that new on ebay now.I didn't run it alot,but I thought it was fairly decent loco.Any input would be appreciated.
So what makes them not so good?Like I said,I didn't run mine alot and it was a small layout with only a few cars to pull.My main loco was an Atlas GP 40 which was a better engine,but I don't recall it being that much better.But like I said earlier that has been several years back. The reason I was wondering tho was I was thinking of getting one to be my test ground for adding detail parts.Never done it before and was wanting to give it a shot.
Well....they may not run as quiet nor are they as capable of running at real slow speed like Atlas or Kato until you mu two or three together but I love my 4 Spectrum SD40-2s,1 Dash8-40c, and 1 Dash8-40CW. They also are not quite as good on the detail but I superdetail and repaint everything anyways. They run very well in mu and with my "regular" Bachman GP40-2s as well as my Life-Like GP38-2s, F40s and early GP18.
My only complaint with Bachman is that they are NOY dcc ready. I wonder if they will get with the program or are they going to product only kiddie engines. Most serious model railroaders are running dcc now.
Halfpint: I think the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 and 4-8-2 Mountains are the best detailed steamers on the market. Besides the Kato 2-8-2 Mikado, the 2-8-0 and 4-8-2 Bachmann steamers are equally great performers. I half 6 Bachmann 2-8-0's and 7 Bachmann 4-8-2's and they are the quietest steamers and run particularly well at slow speed. BTW, my layout is DCC equipped and I also find the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0's and 4-8-2's to be the easiest steam loco's for decoder installation. The space is sitting there once you remove the weight.. These loco's are DCC ready. All wires needed for the installation are with 1/2" of the space provided... Stay cool and run steam...
I should add I'm refering to the diesel locos.I had a dash 8 a few years back and thought it performed all right.
I have 2 Diesel Bachhmans, and they pull like most others, but you cant hear each other talking as they come past! Plastic drive gears meshing away! Perfect for my 4yr old, he thinks they sound like a real train - NOISEY! Few yrs back they had a really really bad name, as the quality wasnt there in running, detail etc. but as I said, mine go quite well, if I could work out how to shut them up a little..
I think that if you had a chance to watch a Kato or Atlas compared to a Bachmann you'd see the difference. Life like isn'tbad either but it can't compare to the others.
Always get a chuckle at the club when two LL mallets are pulled off the train & replaced with a single Bach 2-8-0 & it just walks away with the same length train.Also compare the detail on the Bach. rods & running gear with most other brands,big difference in detail!Kato excluded of course!
If you are looking to have a go at adding detail parts the bachmann unit would be good to practice on.
I know a lot of excellent modelers who would call your comment fighting words. Your comment means that by sales 83% of the modelers are just fooling around at it. Sales of DCC equipped are only 1 in 6 of the total.
I knew that it was true......I am no longer a serious modeler! BTW- I own 2 Spectrum dash 8s and they run fine, albeit with a bit of noise as aforementioned. When was the last time that you were trackside and heard a quiet diesel though! Russ
George: I run DCC on the JJJ&E and would prefer to buy a loco without a decoder so that I could put in a decoder of my choice in the loco. Since Atlas is is the only manufacturer that I know supplying decoders in loco's, I think your figures aren't accurate. Most modelers who use DCC would rather install their own decoders in a loco. The decoders that Atlas uses mad by Lenz are low end decoders with a minimum of functions. This is my opinion FWIW... Stay cool and run steam.....
I'm a fan of old style block control just for the sake of easy buying of locos. I love buying locos. I also like the challenge of managing all the blocks when operating. DCC looks too easy!
It is easy,you get to drive your locomotive like an engineer ,not run your control panel. It free's you up to do other great things like operate realistically adding new dimensions to the hobby. How about MU ing 4 Diesels together and being able to match speeds perfectly,Cant do that with regular block control. There are options available now where you can run DCC and regular DC loco's for those who dont want to convert thier entire roster. DCC is fabulous.Once you go DCC,you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.
Tileguy: Well said..but lets not spread all that good info around.... Let's enjoy the benefits of DCC ourselves as we have been doing for years... Stay cool and run steam with DCC...
